NEWS BRIEFS: ODOT changes course, reopens U.S. 50 in Bainbridge

ODOT changes course and reopens U.S. 50 in Bainbridge

BAINBRIDGE - The Ohio Department of Transportation, after announced earlier Thursday that a portion of U.S. 50 in Bainbridge was likely to remain closed through the rest of the week, changed course later in the day and announced the road was being reopened to traffic.

The portion of the road between Quarry Street and Maple Street in Bainbridge was shut down following an early Tuesday morning fire that involved four structures on the 100 block of East Main Street. Investigators with the State Fire Marshal's Office, in conjunction with the Ross County Sheriff's Office, are conducting interviews and investigating the scene in the search for the origin and cause of the fire.

ODOT had originally said the actual duration of the road closure is unknown, but that it was expected to remain shut down the remainder of this week. In a 3 p.m. release Thursday, however, it stated that cleanup efforts to remove the remaining debris to make the road safe for passage had been completed and the road was being reopened.

Anyone with information relating to the fire, meanwhile, is being encouraged to call the State Fire Marshal’s office at 800-589-2728 or the Ross County Sheriff’s Office at 740-773-1185.

Huntington schools closed Monday; last day of classes moved to May 24

CHILLICOTHE - There will be no school for students at the Huntington Local Schools Monday due to professional development for staff.

The school calendar has been amended to reflect that students' last day of classes for the school year will be Thursday, May 24.

TOSRV returns to local roads May 19 and 20

CHILLICOTHE - The 57th Annual Tour of the Scioto River Valley bicycle tour will roll through Ross County May 19 and 20.

Approximately 2,000 cyclists will leave Canal Winchester at 6 a.m. May 19 on the ride to Portsmouth. They will then return to Canal Winchester Sunday along the same travel route.

The cyclists will enter Ross County on the trip to Portsmouth on Ohio 104, which they will take until they reach Yoctangee Park in Chillicothe for a lunch and entertainment break. From the park, cyclists will travel through downtown Chillicothe to Ohio 772, then to Cooks Hill Road, to Ohio 104, to Three Locks Road and onto Higby Road.

From there, they will travel to Ohio 335 into Pike County, where they will pick up U.S. 23 for a short distance in Waverly before going onto Ohio 104/Lake White Road and then to Ohio 73 back to the Ohio 104 South ramp to Portsmouth.

The same roads will be used for the return journey May 20.

The Ohio Highway Patrol said troopers will be working the route in an effort to make the event as safe as possible for both cyclists and drivers and is asking drivers to stay alert those days and respect the cyclists' right to the roadway.

Ham radio operators will assist with communications. Anyone needing to report an emergency or other problems may contact the Chillicothe Post of the patrol at 740-773-7071 or by calling #677.

One killed in late Wednesday crash on Ohio 104

MCDERMOTT – A McDermott man was killed and a Circleville man was airlifted following a two-vehicle crash late Wednesday on Ohio 104 in McDermott.

According to the Portsmouth Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, Robert R. Simpson, 29, of McDermott, was southbound on Ohio 104 about 10:01 p.m. Wednesday when he went left of center and struck a northbound vehicle driven by Robert Sargent, 59, of Circleville, head-on.

Simpson was transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities said he had not been wearing a seatbelt.

Sargent was flown to Cabell Huntington Hospital in West Virginia for treatment of what were described as non-life threatening injuries.